St. Paul's Frank Boyd Park is dedicated to a "fighter for his class, his race, and his union." Born in Kansas, Boyd moved to Minnesota in 1904 and joined the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters Union in 1925, rising to secretary-treasurer in the organization. Active in DFL politics, he was one of the first two African Americans to cast votes in the Electoral College, in 1944. He died on May 2, 1962.

William Windom is born in Belmont City, Ohio. After settling in Winona in 1855, Windom represented Minnesota in the US Congress as both a congressman and a senator. He later served as secretary of the treasury under Presidents James A. Garfield and Benjamin Harrison. His likeness appears on the 1891 two-dollar bill, and Windom in Cottonwood County is named for him. He died in 1891.

Charles A. Lindbergh is the featured speaker at a large America First rally in Minneapolis. The America First Committee promoted US isolationism during the years leading up to World War II. Lindbergh's anti-war activity reduced his stature in many people's eyes, but after war was declared he would dedicate himself to the battle for victory, flying fifty missions in the Pacific.

St. Augusta Township in rural Stearns County becomes the city of Ventura as five new city officials take the oath of office to serve this community, which was named for Governor Jesse Ventura as part of a political strategy to prevent annexation attempts by St. Cloud, the county seat. The former township clerk comments, "We are about to form the newest city in the state of Minnesota." In November voters overwhelmingly choose to change the city's name from Ventura to St. Augusta.

Minnesota becomes the thirty-second state. The enabling act for statehood had been passed on February 26, 1857, and the state's constitution was written that summer and ratified in October. Full statehood had been held up by southern senators who wanted Kansas to enter the Union as a slave state. Finally approved by Congress, the bill was signed by President James Buchanan. Word of statehood did not reach St. Paul until May 13.

James Shields is born in Ireland. He would be a US senator for three different states: Illinois, Minnesota, and Missouri. After he moved to Faribault in 1855, he was one of the first two senators selected by the state's legislature, and while in office he encouraged Irish immigration to Minnesota. Shieldsville in Rice County is named for him. He died in 1879.

General Winfield Scott arrives to inspect Fort St. Anthony. Impressed with what he sees, he suggests that the fort be renamed Fort Snelling for Colonel Josiah Snelling, supervisor of its construction.

Elvis Presley performs at the Minneapolis Auditorium for a crowd of 3,000.

The University of Minnesota Law School's one hundredth class graduates with 234 candidates: 98 women and 136 men.

Minnesota becomes the twelfth state to affirm marriage equality when governor Mark Dayton signs and passes a bill allowing same-sex couples to marry. In 2012, Minnesota voters had rejected a proposed amendment to the state's constitution that would have limited marriage to heterosexual couples.

The Reverend Edward D. Neill's Presbyterian chapel is destroyed in St. Paul's first documented fire.

The sewage disposal plant on Pig's Eye Island in St. Paul is dedicated. Originally considered progressive, it later became a Superfund site.